Machine tool or production machine with a display unit for visually displaying operating sequences

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a machine tool or production machine in which the tool/machine has a display unit ( 4, 5 ) for visually displaying operating sequences and/or parameters of the tool/machine, whereby the display unit ( 4, 5 ) is provided in the form of a projection display ( 4 ). Compared to prior art display units or control panels, the inventive display unit provides a user of a machine tool or production machine with an improved ability to view and input information.

The invention relates to a machine tool or production machine, thetool/machine having a display unit for visually displaying operatingsequences and/or parameters of the tool/machine.

Almost every commercially available machine tool or production machinenowadays has a display unit or a control panel with the aid of which theproduction process can be parameterized, controlled and monitored insitu. Usually a CRT or LCD screen is used as the display unit. This isusually located next to or in front of the tool/machine as an integralpart of a control panel or is mounted on a movable boom, as it is known.

The invention is based on the idea that a projection display is used asthe display unit. In this case, the projection display may be used inaddition to the existing, commercially available conventional displayunit or control panel or as alternative in place of the conventionaldisplay unit or control panel.

Such a control panel 3, which has an LCD screen 9 and two keyboard zones10 and 11, is represented in FIG. 1.

In the case of a projection display, the image to be presented isprojected by a projection unit onto an opaque surface. This may be, forexample, any flat panel, which may consist for example of high-gradesteel or plastic. As a result, information can be offered at a placewhere the operator can receive and assign it most easily, for exampledirectly on the tool/machine housing and/or in the working space of thetool/machine.

The invention is based on the object of using a projection display toprovide an improved visual display capability for a user of a machinetool or production machine in comparison with conventional display unitsor control panels.

This object is achieved for a machine tool or production machine of thetype mentioned at the beginning by a projection display being providedas the display unit.

The panel onto which the image is projected by the projection unit is inthis case completely insensitive to environmental influences, such asfor example temperature and contamination, so that a display can takeplace even at locations at which it would not be possible with theconventionally used technology. In the case of the projection technique,the size of the display is restricted essentially only by the availableprojection area, i.e. the size of the panel. This provides greatflexibility with respect to the size of the display and the amount ofinformation presented simultaneously. Scaling according to therequirements of the tool/machine or the wishes of the customer is alsopossible without any problem.

A first advantageous form of the invention is characterized in that aflat panel onto which an image is projected by means of a projectionunit is provided as the projection display. Such a flat panel can beproduced at low cost.

In this connection, it proves to be advantageous if the panel can beprovided on the tool/machine housing and/or in the working space of thetool/machine. The panel can be provided at particularly low cost on thetool/machine housing, which is present in any case. If the panel isprovided in the working space of the tool/machine, it is made possiblefor the user to view the production process and the informationprojected onto the panel by the projection unit simultaneously.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous if the panel is an integralpart of the tool/machine housing. If the panel is an integral part ofthe tool/machine housing, particularly low-cost realization of theprojection display is possible.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous if the display unit hasvirtual optically presented input means and operator actions can becaptured by means of the input means, and in such a way the tool/machinecan be controlled by an operator. If it is possible by means of theprojection display not only to present information but also to pass onoperator actions, such as parameterization and control commands forexample, from the operator to the control system of the tool/machine, aconventional display unit or control panel can be completely replaced bythe projection display.

In this connection, it proves to be advantageous if the operator actionsof the input means can be captured by means of a camera or by means of atouch-sensitive panel. Such capturing by means of a camera or by meansof a touch-sensitive panel is particularly reliable.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detailbelow and represented in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a machine tool according to the invention.

In FIG. 1, a machine tool according to the invention is represented inthe form of an exemplary embodiment. The machine tool has a workingspace 8, in which the production process takes place and which can beseparated from the working area of the operator of the tool/machine bymeans of two sliding doors 1 and 2. In FIG. 1, the two sliding doors 1and 2 are represented in the open state.

Furthermore, the tool/machine has a conventional display unit or controlpanel 3. This has, for display purposes, an LCD screen 9 and, as inputmeans, inter alia, two keyboard zones 10 and 11. With the aid of thecontrol panel 3, the tool/machine can be operated, in particularparameterized and controlled, by an operator in situ. Furthermore, thesliding door 1 is provided with a glass plate 12 and the sliding door 2with a glass plate 13, which make it possible for the operator to seeinto the working space 8 to monitor the situation.

Fastened on the outer side of the sliding door 2 are a flat panel 4 anda projection unit 5. The panel 4 and the projection unit 5 together forma so-called projection display. For this purpose, the projection unit 5projects onto the panel 4 an image that can be visually perceived by theoperator.

In the exemplary embodiment, a display zone 7 for the visual display ofoperating sequences and/or parameters of the tool/machine but also aso-called virtual keyboard zone 15 as input means are projected with theaid of the projection unit 5 onto the panel 4. It should be noted atthis point that other input means, such as for example a virtual mouse,are of course also conceivable as input means.

The operator actions carried out by the operator by means of the virtualkeyboard zone 15 are thereby captured optically by a camera integratedin the projection unit 5 and made available to the control system of thetool/machine. The virtual keyboard 8 consequently operates as a virtualtouchscreen. The capturing of the input may of course also take placealternatively by means of a touch-sensitive panel.

In the exemplary embodiment, the tool/machine consequently has, apartfrom the control panel 3, an additional operator control and displaypossibility in the form of the projection display. Since, in theexemplary embodiment, the display unit according to the inventionconsequently not only has a display functionality but also an operatorcontrol functionality, it is consequently also possible to dispensecompletely with the conventional, commercially available control panel3.

If the sliding doors 1 and 2 are closed, the direct arrangement of theprojection display on the sliding door 2 directly underneath the window13 makes it possible for the user to see the information presented onthe projection display and the processes taking place in the workingspace 8 together simultaneously during the production process. In thecase for example of malfunctions occurring, the operator can pass onappropriate commands to the control system of the tool/machine directlyvia the virtual keyboard zone 8. Alternatively, however, the panel 4could also be mounted directly, for example in a corner of the viewingwindow 13.

It is of course also conceivable to provide in addition or asalternative to the display unit provided on the sliding door 2, afurther display unit, which comprises a panel 6 depicted by dashed linesand a projection unit 14 depicted by dashed lines, in the working space8 of the tool/machine. This makes it possible for the operator to have aparallel display of the production process captured in the working space8 and the information concerning the production process presented on thepanel 6 when the sliding doors 1 and 2 are open or when the slidingdoors are closed by means of the viewing windows 12 and 13. However, itis also conceivable in this connection, inter alia, to use theprojection unit 14 for example for marking defective machine or toolcomponents.

The use of a projection display as a display unit with a possiblyintegrated operator control capability in the case of machine tools orproduction machines is particularly well suited for innovativeapplications in commissioning, production, diagnostic and serviceprocedures. These are often concerned with bringing information intorelation with sequences in the working space of the tool/machine as wellas possible. By integrating a projection display into existingtool/machine components, the operator control and display of the controlsystem are virtually fused together with the tool/machine. The saving ofspace and the reduction of components bring about a considerablereduction in costs as compared with the use of display units or controlpanels realized by conventional setting-up technology.

The possibility of making information available to the operator with theaid of a projection display located in the working space or the vicinityof the working space allows fundamental innovation in the area ofcommissioning, production, service and diagnostics. For example,suggestions concerning faults which occur during the production processcan be visually displayed in the direct vicinity of where they occur.Furthermore, operating instructions can be displayed step by stepdirectly on the tool/machine, so that they can be followed much moreeasily by the operator than would be the case with a conventionaldisplay unit or control panel.

Furthermore, the projection display is distinguished by its particularlygreat robustness with respect to environmental influences, so that itcan be provided at virtually any locations in, around or on the machine.If, apart from information, an input means, for example a keyboard zone,is projected and operator actions are optically captured, for example bya camera, which may be integrated for example in the projection unit, orby means of a panel with touch-sensitive characteristics (virtualtouchscreen), it may be possible to dispense entirely with the previousdisplay unit or operator control unit.

In principle, the display unit according to the invention can thus beused in addition or as an alternative to the existing commerciallyavailable display unit or control panel.

At this point it should be noted that single-axis or multi-axis turning,milling, drilling or grinding machines are to be understood for exampleas machine tools. The machine tools also include machining centers,linear and rotary transfer machines, laser machines or hobbing andgear-cutting machines. Common to all of these is that a material isworked, it being possible for this working to be performed in more thanone axis. The production machines include, for example, textile,plastic, wood, glass, ceramic or stone working machines. Machines offorming technology, packaging technology, printing technology, conveyingtechnology, pumping technology, ventilation technology, lifting toolsand robots are likewise classified as production machines.

1.-6. (canceled)
 7. A machine tool or production machine, comprising adisplay unit for visually displaying an operating sequence and/orparameter, said display unit being constructed as a projection displaywhich includes a projection unit for projecting an image onto an opaquesurface.
 8. The machine tool or production machine of claim 7, whereinthe opaque surface is part of a flat panel onto which the image isprojected by the projection unit.
 9. The machine tool or productionmachine of claim 8, further comprising a housing for attachment of thepanel.
 10. The machine tool or production machine of claim 8, furthercomprising a housing having a working space, said panel being providedin the working space.
 11. The machine tool or production machine ofclaim 9, wherein the panel is an integral part of the housing.
 12. Themachine tool or production machine of claim 7, wherein the display unithas virtual optically presented input means for capturing an operatingaction to thereby allow control of the machine tool or productionmachine by an operator.
 13. The machine tool or production machine ofclaim 12, further comprising a camera for capturing the operating actionof the input means.
 14. The machine tool or production machine of claim12, wherein the panel is touch-sensitive and captures the operatingaction of the input means.